NGO trains youth on State tenders

Entrepreneurship Training Programme (ETP) is on a mission to get more young people to access Government procurement tenders.

ETP, which was formed by a group of business people, is hoping to get more information out to youth who may be at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing opportunities.

The organisation’s chairman, John Chomba, says ETP has so far trained more than 500 young people in Nairobi’s slums, and will soon launch a countrywide training exercise.

“We empower young people through training, mentorship and business nurturing,” says Chomba.

Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (Agpo) was launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta to enable more people to supply Government needs by ensuring that 30 per cent of all tenders are allocated to youth, women and people living with disabilities.

Existing opportunities

Speaking during a training session at the Dagorretti South Empowerment Centre, Chomba said ETP’s curriculum is designed to inform the youth on existing business opportunities and how to grab them, with a special emphasis on Agpo.

“Our training includes topics as basic as opening bank accounts and goes all the way to things like how to acquire mandatory documents to participate in Government tenders.”

The organisation, which is registered as an NGO, also equips its trainees with basic sales and marketing skills, personal grooming tips and business language guidelines.

“We cater for all costs, including hiring venues, meals and facilitators’ allowances,” says Chomba, adding that the training programme lasts a day and targets 50 to 80 trainees per session.

To qualify for training, you need to have gone up to at least Form Four. Attendees are given certificates on successful completion.

“We’re also partnering with the Government through the State Department of Youth Affairs to curb high unemployment in the country,” says Chomba.